New and unique statues have decorated the front of local businesses. The statues may look similar to faces described in Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol, and they are supposed to because they are a part of Antioch’s holiday program, Dickens Village. On Nov. 8, the characters were put up and the program began.

The statue idea started three years ago from community member Charlie Lyngaas, who got the idea from another town. Each character was designed by several different committees, and were put together this summer by community volunteers. In the future the committees hope to add to the 25 existing characters, which are currently put together in 17 scenes.

The various groups focus on more than construction. One group writes the stories of each character, which can be found on a plaque at the base of each individual scene. These plaques give the community an insight into the joys and misery that each character might have lived in the novel.

“[The purpose] is to create foot traffic on our business community,”Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce Barbara Porch said. In the future, the Chamber of Commerce hopes to have more people come in to see the Dickens Village on tour buses.